iPhone Assistive Technology Round-Up

By Ricky Buchanan • July 25, 2008

The iPhone and iPod Touch feature the wonderful new multi-touch screens, but this can present some problems for people who need assistive technology to use them. The multi-touch screens only recognise touches made by skin, so they can’t be used with a case (to protect from spills or being dropped) or a stylus or other pointer.

The TenOne company has developed the Pogo Stylus which is made of metal so it works with the multitouch screen. Samuel Sennot has been able to test one and written a review of the Pogo Stylus in an assistive technology context which is quite positive. I think this would mostly be helpful for those who have trouble with finger isolation but could grip a stylus in a closed fist and use it like that.

For those who need a case to protect their iPhone or iPod Touch from spills and from being dropped, IvySkin have developed “touch-thru” cases which allow the device to be used with the case still in place. The XyloT2 is a hard polycarbonate case which covers the whole device and still allows it to be used. The images suggest that the port at the bottom of the iPhone is exposed with this case so it may not be ideal for protecting from excessive moisture.

Mainstream manufacturers developing these things for mainstream customers who just prefer cases and using a stylus because the iPhone is so popular that it’s economically worthwhile to do so. Many of these product developers probably aren’t even aware that these can be important disability solutions! If you happen to need the aids being developed like this, it’s far better than the usual situation where people must wait a long time for disability specific aids at the usual enormous prices. On the other hand, other disability needs such as switch access and speech generation aren’t yet available for the iPhone or iPod Touch. Nothing’s ever perfect.

- Ricky Buchanan

Categories: Information, Supporters, Users, Windows Users, iPhone/iPod Touch/iTouch
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About the Author

Ricky Buchanan

Ricky Buchanan is 34 years old and the founder and main writer for ATMac. She's bedridden with severe CFS/ME or perhaps a primary mitochondrial disorder - the doctors are not sure. When she's not working on ATMac or her other websites she composes music, listens to audio books, does other disability advocacy, watches TV with her flatmate, and enjoys her cat.

6 Comments For “iPhone Assistive Technology Round-Up”

Paul J Natsch Jul 26th, 2008 at 1:41 am

I just discovered this stylus earlier this week and was about to write an article on it for your site myself but you beat me to it!

I agree that this stylus was probably not developed with people like us in mind but the implications for people like us are huge! I’ve tried testing the iPhone and iPod Touch with mouth stick tips, pencil erasers, etc.. and none of them worked so I had just about given up on ever getting one of these devices. This stylus obviously changes all that. I could easily attach one of these to my hand splint.

I would love replace my cell phone with the new iPhone 3G but the absence of voice recognition is big. I could actually use the iPhone perfectly fine when in my chair with my hand splint on. But I would need pure voice-activated dialing to make calls from my bed at night (for emergencies).

There is a new program waiting for approval for the App Store called “Voice Dial” (http://www.makayama.com/iphonevoicedial.html) that will add a level of speech recognition to the iPhone. But as with other cell phones you still have to press a button on your phone to bring up the voice prompt which kind of defeats the purpose, at least for me.

A few months ago I purchased this device called “Vocalize” (http://www.gimpgear.us/vocalize.htm) which, in combination with the Windows Mobile, Bluetooth enabled, smartphone (I got the Motorola Q9h) allows you to use the voice commands of your phone without having to press a button. You simply say your magic keyword (like “telephone”, for example) to activate the voice prompt. The device actually hooks up to your wheelchair batteries and mounts underneath your seat. Then you establish a Bluetooth connection between Vocalize and your cell phone and you’re ready to go. It was somewhat difficult to install on my wheelchair but it was worth it. I don’t actually use it during the day I’m up in my chair but when I’m in bed at night it’s my lifeline. Even recognizes my voice from the other side of the room where I plug my wheelchair in to charge.

So if the iPhone got voice-recognition and it was compatible with Vocalise I would buy one right now. Actually, if the iPhone got voice-recognition that I could activate without the need for Vocalize I’d buy one immediately as well, even though that would render Vocalize useless. I don’t know if it’s ever going to happen so I’ll probably buy an iPod Touch instead in the next few months now that I know I could actually use one.

Geez, sorry for the long post. I could have made this post an article in itself!
Ricky Buchanan Jul 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

@Paul: Are you interested in doing a post on various AT-relevant iPhone/iPod Touch applications? I noticed there’s a “Jott” application and a “Note2Self” voice recorder available, but not having the hardware (or any plans to get the hardware) I’m really not qualified to write an article about all these.

The Vocalize sounds hardy, there’s a fair number of gadgets which understand speech but only after having a key pressed.
Paul J Natsch Jul 27th, 2008 at 3:26 am

Ricky: I don’t have an iPhone/iPod Touch yet. However, whenever I get one I’d be happy to. I’m in the process of determining how accessible one would be for me (and the Pogo Stylus is a big part of that). If it works out I may wait a month or two to see if Apple releases a new iPod Touch before buying one. New ones are widely rumored for August or September.

If/when I get one I’ll let you know. I was actually planning to write an article on ebook reading apps for the iPhone/iPod Touch as that is a big reason why I need one. We’ll see what happens.
Kati Sep 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 pm

Hi

I’m new to iMac and Keystrokes software. I used to use Napster and download onto my mobile when I had PC. But Im having difficulty with tiny buttons on mobile due to having ataxia. (difficulty with fine motor coordination in hands and other muscles).

I’m wondering what are the differences between iPod Touch and iphone and if its worth me getting one or the other? I have some hearing/speech problems so I cant actually speak on a phone i only use text messaging. I’m hoping to get a Lightwriter communication device funded which will include text messaging ability if I can get that one.

Should I just use that if i can get it funded and get an ipod nano or something just for downloading music or would ipod touch be easier for me to operate?

To give you some idea of hand co-ordination I can write big for short periods, with a grip on pen to make it chunkier to grip, and I use Joystick plus as i cant use mouse or trackball well. I can press buttons if they arent too small or close together, any small stylus would need to have some way to make it easier to grip. My movements are kinda clumsy and unco-ordinated, bigger movements are easier than tiny ones.

Any ideas whether i might find the ipod nano controls easiest or the ipod touch/iphone? Would appreciate advice from someone who has or or both of these and knows what level of fine motor control they need to operate?

Thanks

Kati (Yorkshire, UK)
Ricky Buchanan Sep 3rd, 2008 at 12:33 am

@Kati: Welcome to your iMac! I hope you go well with it The iPod Touch and iPhone are only different in that the iPhone allows phone calls and text messages - almost all other features are the same I understand. They have a touch screen rather than distinct buttons or switches, so I think the iPod Nano would probably be easier for you to operate. I have an iPod Nano and I haven’t ever seen a keyguard for one of them but it would not be too hard to make one - you don’t say but if coordination is a problem I imagine a keyguard would help you? Becauses the iPod Touch and iPhone use a touch sensitive screen there is no possibility of a keyguard and it’s possible that rough handling of the screen might make it fail sooner although I’m not sure.

The disclaimer would be that I’ve never seen an iPod Touch or iPhone - only read about them. I have an iPod Nano myself but I don’t have ataxia or any coordination problems, so I may be missing something.

Good luck getting your LightWriter, and welcome to the blog!

- Ricky
Paul Natsch Oct 31st, 2009 at 4:04 am

UPDATE:

I just wanted to let people know that Vocalize now officially supports the iPhone 3GS with firmware 3.1! Check out the page that lists supported mobile phones and you’ll see it there.
http://www.gimpgear.us/cellphones.htm
I did get to the Apple Store the other day and Vocalize does now show up on the iPhone 3GS’s Bluetooth screen (it didn’t even show up before) but I couldn’t successfully pair the two devices together. However, I did not try rebooting the iPhone 3GS or any of the other tips suggested in the Vocalize manual.
That said, if you’re really interested in pursuing this expensive, but extremely easy to use, setup (Vocalize &iPhone 3GS) I suggest calling the Vocalize people and confirming this. If for some reason they don’t remove all your apprehension let me know and I’ll go back (with the manual) and fully test it.

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